Tag Archives: Animals

Snowboy And The Last Tree Standing

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Snowboy and his Ice Troopers are busy saving the Polar Bear King when Greenbackboy comes up with a better game called KA-CHING – a game that will make them rich. They need to cut down all the trees in the forest, catch all the fish in the ocean, and trade it all in for piles of shiny KA-CHING. But Snowboy realizes the importance of keeping at least one tree and two fish and he is brave enough to stand up for what he feels is right. Whimsical artwork done in pencil and colored digitally helps deliver a clear environmental message in this Lorax-like cautionary tale. mjw

Title: Snowboy And The Last Tree Standing Author: Hiawyn Oram Illustrator: Birgitta Sif Publisher: Candlewick Press. Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-7636-9572-9 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: English, born in South Africa Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Reykjavik Illustrator’s residence: Sweden Subjects: Conservation, Environment, Greed, Natural resources

The Little Prince 75th Anniversary Edition

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This is the 75thanniversary edition of the classic story about an aviator whose plane is forced down in the Sahara Desert where he encounters a little prince from a small planet who relates his adventures in seeking the secret of what is important in life.  This edition offers the full text of the beloved story – including a biography of the author, sketches, photos, and reviews from the first edition.  It also features a free audio download read by acclaimed author Viggo Mortensen.  The Little Prince is the most widely translated literary work of the twentieth century. mjw

Title: The Little Prince 75th Anniversary Edition Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944) Illustrator: Antoine de Saint-Exupery Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: French Translator: Vali Tamm Original Title: Le Petit Prince Original Publisher: Editions Gallimard. Paris Original Copyright: 1943,1946 ISBN: 978-1-328-47975-4 Hardcover pages: 224 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fantasy, Fiction Book setting: Sahara Desert Author’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Subjects: Airplanes, Fables, Fairytales, Pilots, Planets, Princes, Roses

Toshi’s Little Treasures

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In this search-and–find information book, young Toshi and his grandmother explore six of their favorite places – the riverbank, the city, the forest, the country, the park, and the beach. Toshi finds treasures to add to his growing collection in his new backpack. He finds a pussy willow branch, a dog whistle, a partridge feather, a glittery rock, a coin, and much more. Each scene is featured in a double-page spread, followed by matching activity pages where readers can identify Toshi’s treasures and match them to related items. Answers at the back of the book give additional interesting facts. The animals they find are also presented. Charming, delicate watercolor art adds to the fun. mjw

Title: Toshi’s Little Treasures Author: Nadine Robert Illustrator: Aki Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: Yvette Ghione Original Title: Le grand livre des petits trésors Original Publisher: Comme des Geants, Inc. Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77138-573-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Montreal, Quebec Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Grandmothers, Habitats, Nature, Natural history

A Dog Named Haku: A Holiday Story From Nepal

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In Kathmandu, Nepal, courageous dogs are honored on Divali, the Hindu holiday called the Festival of Lights.  Brothers Alu and Bhalu have been searching in the earthquake ruins for a stray dog, a kukur, to celebrate. They finally spot a small black dog, who is in need of a home.  The illustrations that were created with a combination of hand drawing and digital imagery add to the simple text.  A glossary of Nepali words, a list of sources to learn more about Nepal, and another list of suggested activities are included.  mjw

Title: A Dog Named Haku: A Holiday Story From Nepal Author: Margarita Engle with Amish Karanjit and Nicole Karanjit Illustrator: Ruth Jeyaveeran Publisher: Millbrook Press. Minneapolis Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1512432053 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Kathmandu, Nepal Author’s ethnicity: Engle – Cuban, Karanjit – born in Nepal Author’s residence: San Francisco, CA Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Zambia, Africa to Indian parents Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Awards: Engle is the 2018  United States Young Peoples Poet Laureate Subjects: Brothers Divali. Dogs, Holidays. Nepal

Swan Lake: A Retelling Of The Classic Ballet By Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

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The ballet, Swan Lake, the tragic love story of Odette, a princess transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer, is reimagined in beautiful black, white, and red charcoal illustrations in this over-sized picture book version of the classic tale.  The story is briefly summarized at the beginning of each of the three acts. It is a story of first love, good and evil, and betrayal and loss. mjw

Title: Swan Lake: A Retelling Of The Classic Ballet By Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Author: Anne Spudvilas Illustrator: Anne Spudvilas Publisher: Allen and Unwin Book Publishers.  Sydney, Australia Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-74331-845-4 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 10-14 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Murry-Darling riverscape in Australia Author’s ethnicity: Australian Author’s residence: Wentworth, Australia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Australian Illustrator’s residence: Wentworth, Australia Subjects: Ballets, Birds, Dance, Fairytales, Love, Magic

Rivers: A Visual History From River To Sea

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This oversized encyclopedic book takes readers on a journey along the most important rivers in the world. “Understanding rivers helps us to understand history and the people who have lived alongside them for centuries.” Each detailed illustration includes major events, historical figures, and favorite stories connected with the river. A table of contents guides readers along the journey. mjw

Title: Rivers: A Visual History From River To Sea Author: Peter Goes Illustrator: Peter Goes Publisher: Gecko Press Ltd. New Zealand Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Dutch Translator: Bill Nagelkerke Original Title: Rivieren Original Publisher: Lannoo Publishers Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-776572-16-8 Hardcover pages: 80 Age range: 7-12 Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: World Author’s ethnicity: Belgian Author’s residence: Belgium Illustrator’s ethnicity: Belgian Illustrator’s residence: Belgium Subjects: Continents, Exploration, Oceans, Rivers, Sea life, Seas, Water

Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert

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Sophie Johnson is a self-confessed unicorn expert.  She has seventeen unicorns that are really all her toys and pets that she has dressed up with unique unicorn horns. But Sophie doesn’t see the real unicorn hiding in plain sight.  Magical illustrations capture the unicorns, rainbows, and fun in Sophie’s world. mjw

Title: Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert Author: Morag Hood Illustrator: Ella Okstad Publisher: Aladdin, New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Simon and Schuster UK Ltd. Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-534431614 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book, Fantasy Author’s ethnicity: Scotland Author’s residence: Edinburgh Illustrator’s ethnicity: Norway Illustrator’s residence: Trondheim  Subjects: Make believe, Pets, Toys, Unicorns

Dear Professor Whale

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In nine short, charming chapters, Professor Whale plans another Whale Point Olympics.  Penguins, whales, and seals come together in the follow-up to Yours Sincerely, Giraffe.  Takabatake’s simple black and white drawings capture the essence of the animals. mjw

Title: Dear Professor Whale Author: Megumi Iwasa Illustrator: Jun Takabatake Publisher: Gecko Press, New Zealand Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Cathy Hirano Original Publisher: Kaiser-sha Publishing Co. Original Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 978-1-776572-06-9 Hardcover pages: 104 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Fiction, chapter book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Tokyo, Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan  Subjects: Humor, Marine life, Penguins, Seals, Whales

Elephant Secret

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Thirteen-year-old Samantha Gray lives with her dad on an elephant sanctuary with eleven elephants. She understands the elephants’ behavior and has a special relationship with each one.  When one of the elephants, named Daisy Mae, dies while giving birth to a very unusual baby, Sam’s world is turned upside down.  She names the baby elephant Woolly and she becomes the mother, feeding her bottles of formula and protecting her.  Sam meets the billionaire genius who funded the impregnated elephant and he explains that the birth was a cloning experiment and that Woolly is a woolly mammoth.  This is a captivating family story of love and our responsibility to all living things on earth. mjw

Title: Elephant Secret Author:  Eric Walters Publisher: Clarion Books, New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-328796172 Hardcover pages: 352 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: North America Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Ontario, Canada Awards: Author has won the Children’s Africana Book Award Subjects: Animal sanctuaries, Cloning, Elephants, Human/animal relationships, Orphaned animals, Woolly mammoths

Get On Your Bike

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William and Bobby are having an argument and William shouts, “Go on!  Just get on your bike and leave!”  So Bobby, a panda, gets on his bike and leaves.  He rides all through the busy town and country paying close attention to all the stop lights.  As he rides he cools down and sees how needless the argument was.  The prominent multimedia artwork really makes the book. Each double page spread is loaded with things to look at and Bobby, in his red and white hoodie, is not always easy to find. mjw

Title: Get On Your Bike Author: Joukje Akveld Illustrator: Philip Hopman Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.  Grand Rapids, MI Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Dutch Translator: Laura Watkinson Original Title: Ga Toch Fietsen! Original Publisher: Em. Querido’s Kinderboeken Uitgervij Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978- 0-8028-5489-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Netherlands Author’s ethnicity: Dutch Author’s residence: Netherlands Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch Illustrator’s residence: Netherlands Subjects: Bicycles, Conflict resolution, Emotions, Feelings, Pandas

Felix

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Felix is a fine cat with a lot of friends.  He goes on whirlwind tours to visit his family all over the world. He goes to India with its golden temples, meets tigers,  and has prawns and scrambled eggs. He travels to China to visit his mysterious cousins, the snow leopards.  They offer him tea and herrings.  Next, he stops in the Russian steppes to visit his cousin Mr. Lynx and is offered  blinis and caviar..  The next stop is the United States where pumas give him steak.  Next is the rainforest of Brazil to visit panthers who give him kebabs. His last stop is the African savannah where lions give him an acacia branch.  Felix finally goes home to his food bowl, his balcony, and his cozy pillow. Rich, colorful artwork accompanies Felix on his travels. mjw

Title: Felix Author: Giovanna Zoboli Illustrator: Simona Mulazzani Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Italian Translator: Laura Watkinson Original Title: Gatto Felice Original Publisher: Topipittoti, Milan Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5506-0 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: India, China, Russia, United States, Brazil, Africa Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Milan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Subjects: Cats, Travel

Whisper Of The East: Tales From Arabia

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This magical collection of six folk stories from the fascinating world of the East contains The Secret of the Black Dress from Arabia, Jamil and Jamila from Syria, The Fisherman and the Djinn adapted from A Thousand and One Nights, The Little Camel from Palestine, The Old Pair of Shoes from Arabia, and The Fisherman and the Mermaid from Arabia.  The illustrations in red and teal are reminiscent of screen-printing.  This interactive book concludes with a glossary, a map of the Middle East, suggestions for making your own fairytales, the Arabic script, and drawing and painting ideas.  The final endpapers represent a fairytale alphabet in English and Arabic. mjw

Title: Whisper Of The East: Tales From Arabia Author: Franziska Meiners Illustrator: Franziska Meiners Publisher: North South Books, Inc. New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: German Translator: David Henry Wilson Original Title: Das Flustern des Orients Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4323-3 Hardcover pages: 112 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Fiction, Short Stories, Folktales Book setting: Arabia, Syria, Palestine Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Cologne Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Cologne Subjects: Fairytales and folklore, Middle East, Storytelling